Refrigerating apparatus



M 15, 1949. L. A. PHILIPP 2.454955 REFTRIGERATING APPARATUS l Filed Aug. 24, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY 56 y AM nauw March I5, 1949. A l A, Fil-UPP 2,464,6064

BY v

W Jaw March 15, i949. l.. A. PHILIPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 24, 1944 L. A. PHILIPP 2,464,&06

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS n March 15, 1949.

` Filed Aug. 24, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 REFaIGEaA'rmG APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp. Detroit, Mich., assigner to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Application August 24, 1944, serial No. 550,920

l Claim. (Cl. 62-99) is desirable, particularly where they are used for commercial dispensing of frozen food stuffs, such as ice cream. etc.

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a refrigerated compartment for dispensing frozen food stuffs wherein more economical use is made of the space therein.

A further object of the invention resides in the use of the four external walls of a frozen food cabinet as a refrigerant condensing element to dissipate the heat of condensation of the refrigerant to the atmosphere. and to employ the four inner compartment walls as a refrigerant evaporator surface to absorb heat from the cabinet thereby rendering virtually the entire space within the device available for the reception of frozen food stuffs. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved frozen food cabinet having a refrigerant compressor unit positioned in one corner and wherein refrigerant condensingl and evaporating elements are disposed on opposite sides of insulating material interposed between outer and inner walls to free the maximum space within the cabinet for the reception of food stuffs.

Yet a still further object resides in the use of a refrigerant motor compressor unit positioned in one corner of a cooler and operably connected to refrigerant evaporator and condenser elements associated with inner and outer walls of the cooler to more economically utilize the space within the cooler.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved-frozen food cabinet built up of a number of sub-assemblies formed of stamped metal sheets secured together as by welding to provide an improved cooler of rugged construction wherein maximum use is made of the space within the device.

Another obiect is to provide a cabinet for storing and dispensing frozen food stuffs wherein the cooler is formed of interconnected stamped sheets to provide a rigid eiiicient structure wherein selectively operable closure members positioned in the top are provided to permit ready access to spaced portions of the device in such a manner that minimum cold is lost from thev storage compartment while dispensing food stuffs from the cabinet.

A further object of the invention resides the development of an improved method of fabricating a frozen food cabinet wherein refrigerant condensing and evaporating elements are secured to spaced walls or subassemblies, and are interconnected when the walls or sub-assemblies are joined together to provide a unitary cabinet having interconnected continuous refrigerant condensing and evaporating elements bonded to the walls to employ the entire surface of insulated outer and inner walls as refrigerant condensing and evaporating elements.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to denne the scope of the invention. reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claim.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view. partly in section, of a frozen food cabinet embodying the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the relation of the refrigerant condensing and evaporating elements;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the front panel of the cabinet illustrated in Fis. 1:

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1:

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line .-8 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-.1 of Fig. 3. looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the inside line 8 8 of Fig. 4. looking in the direction oi the arrows; f Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-9 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows:

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the device 3 illustrated in Fig. 8, looking in the direction of arrow I:

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line II-II of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I2-l2 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also. it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. K

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a frozen food cabinet is illustrated wherein back and front outer walls or panels I0 and I2 are interconnected by outer end walls or panels I4 and I6. The panels I0, I2, I4 and I6 are formed of thin walled metal stock.

Inner back and front walls IB and 20 interconnected by inner end walls 22 and 24 are spaced from the outer walls to provide space for suitable insulating material 26 interposed between the inner and outer walls to prevent the transfer of heat to the storage compartment 28 formed within the inner walls or shell and to minimize the loss of cold from the storage compartment 28. A refrigerant motor compressor unit 30 is positioned in a mechanism compartment 32 located in one end of the cabinet between the outer front wall I2 and the outer end wall I8.

A refrigerant condenser. preferably in the form of a series of interconnected tubes communicating with the outlet 34 of the motor compressor unit 30, is bonded to the outer walls I0, I2, i4 and I0 in heat conducting rel-ation therewith lto dissipate the heat of condensation of the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

The iirst length of the refrigerant condensing tube 38 extends up the outer end wall I0, as illustrated at 38, and extends back and forth across the end wall in serpentine relation, as illustrated at 40, extending from the top toward the bottom above the mechanism compartment 32, as illustrated in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 2. From the bottom of the outer end wall I0 above the mechanism compartment 32, the first length of the condenser conduit 30 extends up to the top of the wall I0, as illustrated at 42, and is connected to a second length of the condensing tube 44 bonded in any suitable manner, as by a silver soldered joint 46 to the back panel I0. It will be understood that the back panel I0 lies adjacent to the end panel I6, the dotted line 48 merely illustrating the connection in the diagrammatic layout of Fig. 2.

The second length oitl the refrigerant condensing tube 44 is bonded to the back panel I0 in heat conducting relation, and extends back and forth across the back wall I0 in serpentine relation, as illustrated at 50. From the bottom of the back wall I0 theconduit 44 extends to the top of the end panel I4, as illustrated at 02,'-and is connected to Aa third length of the condensing tube 54 in any convenient manner, as by a silver soldered joint 56. The tube 04 is bonded to the end panel I4 and extends back and forth across the wall in serpentine relation. as illustrated at 58. From the bottom ofthe end wall I4 the tube 54 extends up, as illustrated at 00. and is connected as by a silver soldered Joint 62 to a tube l64 bonded to the front wall I2. v

The tube 64 is connected to a refrigerant receiver in the form of a larger diameter tube 66 bonded to the front panel I2 in serpentine relation extending toward the bottom of the panel. The large diameter 4tube 06 is bonded to the front panel I2 in heat conducting relation therewith and provides a space for the storage of liquefied refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant passes through a tube 68 into a strainer 10.

The refrigerant condenser formed by the tubes 36, 44, 04 and 64 bonded to the outer walls of the cabinet in thermal contact therewith absorbs heat from the compressed gaseous refrigerant from the motor compressor 3l and dissipates it to the atmosphere through the thin external metal walls of the cabinet which functions as a large heat dissipating iin. As the heat of coni densation is absorbed from the gaseous refrigerant it is converted into a liquid and stored in the receiver 66.

Liquid refrigerant passing through the strainer 10 ows through a tube 12 of small diameter to meter the flow of liquid refrigerant into a refrigerant evaporator in the form of a series of interconnected tubes bonded to the outer surface ofv the inner walls I0, 20, 22 and 24 in heat exchange relation therewith to absorb heat from the storage compartment 20 as the liquid refrigerant expands and is reconverted to the gaseous form.

The tube 'I2 is preferably wrapped about and bonded in heat exchange relation to a conduit 14 extending from the remote end of the refrigerant evaporator element and extending to the inlet side 'I6 of the motor compressor unit l0.

The tube 'I2 is connected to a first length of an evaporator conduit 16 in any convenient manner, as by a silver soldered joint l0. The evaporator conduit 16 is bonded in serpentine relation to the under surface of a panel 1l positioned to overlie the mechanism compartment 32, as illustrated in the lower right hand portion of Fig. 2. Ihe evaporator conduit 'IB is connected to a second length of evaporator conduit 02 by a suitable connection 04. The conduit 84 extends to the bottom of a side panel 00 of the mechanism compartment 32 and extends in serpentine relation up the side wall thereof, as illustrated at 00.

From the top of the panel "forming one of the walls of the mechanism compartment 12, the refrigerant evaporator conduit 82 is connected to another evaporator conduit 30 by a connection 92. "The evaporator conduit 00 is bonded to the end wall 24 above the mechanism compartment 32 and extends toward the top of the wall in serpentine relation, as illustrated at s2. From the top of the end wall 24 the evaporator conduit 00 is connected to another evaporator conduit s4 by a connection 00. The conduit -94 extends down to the bottom of the front wall TheA the evaporator conduit .|02 is connectedto an' other evaporator conduit by a connector in. The' conduit no excendstothe bottom of the'baclr"v panel il', as illustrated a't '||4, and is bonded thereto --in heat'exchang'e rela-tion. The evaporator conduit ||0 is connected to a refrigerant accumulatorin the form of'a conduitv IIIv ofa larger diameter connected to the conduit 14.'

By disposing thev refrigerant evaporating conduits 10.82, 80, 04,' |02 and 0 in serpentine re-` [The conduit connected to the accumulator cohduit" lll is bonded to the back Wall I8 in -thrmal contact therewith, and projects through A.tite-insulation to the inner surface of the cated aplurality of sections or sub-assemblies .sections '|52 and |54, and the device may be completed by securing a top section |58 on the central andendsections. The top section '|58 permit access to spaced portions of the storage.

compartment 28. A y

The centralsection |50 is formed of front and 'back panels |84 and |68. As illustrated in Fig.'

6, the. panels |65 and |68 have rounded lower Aedges to deflne- 'inwardly` extended flanges |68 interposed between and secured to a bottom panel |10, contoured to overlle the flanges |08, as fillustrated at"'|12,fand a' contoured supporting channel' member |14 .having a horizontally ex-V tending portion' |18 secured to the flanges 68 and" 'oiter front' wall I2. .As indicated above, the

the bottom panel |10 in any convenient manner, end oftheconduit 14 is connected to the inlet side 10; of the motor compressor unit 80 as pre-I a vertically extended portion |18, having aperx .viously-discussed, whereby gaseous refrigerant tures |80 extending-through it to reduce4 the -as by welding. The supporting member |14 has.

I benwithdra'wn from the accumulator of the lefrigerant evaporator and b e transmitted under 'pressure' to the refrigerant condenser disposed in thermal relation on the outer panels.

;; The operationof this device is.as follows. Gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the accur'nu-V latorr ofthe' refrigerant evaporator ||8 through-r weight, and a horizontally disposed floor cngag-j ing portion |82. The panel 88 formingone side ofthe mechanism compartment 32 is secured ',to a plate |84 having anges |86 secured to the front panel |64, as by welding.

'Z'thej conduit 1'4 and iscompressed by the motor.

compressor unit l0.4 The compressed-gaseous re- -irigerant is discharged underpressure to thel interconnected 'refrigerant condenser tubes bonded to the inner surface of the external walls of the cabinet. Heat is. dissipated from the gaseous refrigerant by theexternal walls of the cabinet, and when apredetermined proportion of heat has been dissipated the gaseousrefrigerantj is' converted into liquid which flows -into the l' refrigerant receiver 86' positioned adjacent tol 'Y erant metering conduit v12. The capillary' tube 12 is in thermal contact with the' gaseous refrigerant conducting portion 14 of the evaporator. '.I'he liquid refrigerant then-owsthrough the evaporator, conduits '18 and -82 bonded to inwardly extended flange' |92 to support the panel 18defini'ng the top of the mechanism compartment 32. The panel 18 is. contoured as illusto the end'sectionl52.'

the end section |52 and 4The construction of the mannerin which it is vconnected to the j central section is illustrated'in Figs. 8 tol3.

As illustrated in Fig'. 9, the end section |52 vhas a verticallyextended endwall 200 rounded at the bottom to a horizontally extended section @the ,panels '1a. and es surrounding the-mechawardly extended flange 2| 8 of the bottom panel |10 and terminating. in an angularly extended l' -nlsm compartment 32 and through the 'liquid rel.

v frigerant conducting tubes bonded to the interi, presser unit 80.

' connected'end and side walls. 'A'sthe liquid-refrigerant expands thereby absorbing. heat, it is convertedto the gaseous form and flows into duit 14 with theinletside 18 ofthe motor .com-

-in thermal contacty with the outer and inner rigidifylng flange -2 I8.- A supporting member 220 hasa' fiat upper portion 222 welded to thehorizontally extended section v220 of the end wall 200,

theaccumulator I8 connectedl through theconand tothe vbottom panel |10. The-.ends of the .supporting members |14 and 220 areangularly around the cabinet, as illustrated in Fig. 1 1.

walls of the ycabinet 'great' efficiency of operation v' j is' insured, and 'the refrigerated compartment 2l i is maintained as large as possible.V Greater eili- A'clency of operation thus resultsand'a more desirable-structure i's'attained.

n w-m be apparent that, u desired, 4contante plates may be employed to form serpentine con- -Ttoured refrigerant conducting passages for condensing gaseous refrigerant` at 'the oute r walls f o'r shell, or'to evaporate liquid refrigerant vat'th'e may-'be fabri;

The end -panel-200 of each' of the end -sections .|52 and |54 has rounded front andback edge The centralfsectionf |50'and the end section |52 have intermediate horizontal Wall's'ections 18 and 19, respectively, adapted .to align to. form the top wallo'fv the mechanism compartment' 32,

'as illustrated in Figs. 8 and' 10.-' 'The wall'18 in the end section |52 has upwardly extendedl flanges 2 34 welded or otherwise secured to the front and back edge portions 280 and 2320i the warelly exi beet;

panels and o he on ii'oif and is secured thereto, es

ie effe secured Suitable ine i cabinet fin the fabi L, foods, outer s itlnn the ien placed X337 ri irecl a 31 1...

on the e ass By placing t ie coi. i the enter Walis and utilizing such waiis t e `sipation of heat, there will be suicient heen, conducted to the top panel iii@ to prevent sweating about the entrance to the compartment Although preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that Various modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope o the appended claim.

top of successiveiy spacee weils if.' ciaim:

i refrigerated cabinet comprising outer shell having walls formed of intereonnecter metal sheets, the outer sheil being contoured to oveiiie a mechanism compartment positioned in one enel of the cabinet, a refrigerant motor compresso unit in the mechanism compartment, rciigeiant condensing passages bonded in heat conducting relation with the metai sheets femmine the Waiis o; the outer shell enel extending from the top toward the bottoni oi suceessivelsv spaced walls in sepentine relation, an inneib snei hei/ing walls formeel of interconnected metal sheets, the inne;n shell beine contouieei to genere-iiyfoiiow the centouiq of the outer si'ieli, insulation between the inner and outer shels, refiigeant evaporator passages bonded in i'zeat eoenetng ieletion 'with the metal sheets ioniing welis of the ,inner slieii and extending from tiie bottom the eine relation, and connecting means ce tof comniessoi` end tile rergere t c ing and. evaporator passages.

petent:

Steenstup i. Bixler Juiy 3,8, {5m/fier Elev. 22?, Thaxter .spin i5, Morrison Ang. 2Q, 

